A recent statement by the All India Chakma Students’ Union (AICSU) has sparked a sharp reaction in Tlabung, Mizoram, where YMA branches and local residents reject what they see as an attempt to portray the town and its surroundings as historically Chakma territory. The dispute centers on two historical questions: the extent of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) and the identity of Demagiri, the former name of Tlabung. AICSU’s statement, released on 30 August 2026, cites historical maps, colonial records and academic works to support its claim.
AICSU argues that Chakmas have long been established in the CHT, noting that during British rule the region was governed by three recognized rajas – Chakma, Mong and Bohmong – with Chakmas as the largest hill tribe. The union cites a 16th‑century Portuguese map by Diego de Astor that marks a place called ‘Chacomas’ on the eastern bank of the Karnaphuli River, which it interprets as evidence of a Chakma kingdom within the CHT. Regarding Demagiri, AICSU points to British records that consistently used the name, and to Sir Robert Reid’s description of the town as topographically within the CHT, even though administrative authorities later placed it under the South Lushai Hills. An 1879 Bengal notification that set the CHT boundary along rivers and mountain ranges is also cited, as it passes north of Demagiri, leading AICSU to conclude that the town was geographically part of the CHT despite separate administration.
Mizo residents and YMA leaders saw AICSU’s references as an assertion of Chakma ownership over Tlabung and rejected it outright. On 7 September, a local resolution declared that the town had belonged to the Mizo people from time immemorial and had never been a Chakma village. The resolution demanded that AICSU withdraw its statement and apologise, warning against future claims that label any Mizoram village as Chakma territory. That same day, leaders from several YMA branches in Tlabung burned copies of the AICSU statement. YMA Tlabung Branch president TC Lalnunmawia called the position a historical distortion, while officials from YMA Zodin and YMA Chawnpui branches affirmed Tlabung’s Mizo identity and rejected any Chakma claim.
The incident highlights the sensitivity of historical narratives in the Northeast and underscores the need for independent journalism to document and clarify such disputes. EastMojo’s reporter Kimi Colney urges readers to support on‑ground reporting by contributing to the publication’s membership and donation drives, noting that a modest monthly fee can help keep reporters in the region.
